Some large retailers no longer allow cash to be paid on Sundays. Is it legal? La Dépêche du Midi takes stock.
The Banque de France has reminded the Carrefour and Casino retail groups of their obligation to accept cash payments in all of their stores. Indeed, it was found that the absence of staff in certain stores open on Sunday forced customers to go to automatic checkouts that did not allow payment in coins and banknotes.
“We reminded the leaders of these two large groups that it was against the law,” explained the director of fiduciary activities Christophe Baud-Berthier. “This is the principle and it must be remembered: a merchant cannot refuse a payment in cash”, he continued, unlike other means of payment.
Indeed, not accepting payment in cash below 1,000 euros is illegal and akin to a refusal to sell. This process is prohibited by the Consumer Code. The refractory merchant is thus exposed to a fine of 150 euros, according to article R.642-3 of the Penal Code.
Any refusal observed in a business can be reported to the Defender of Rights, directly to the Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Populations (DDPP) or the Departmental Directorate for Social Cohesion and Protection of Populations (DDCSPP) of the place of residence. .
However, there are certain cases in which a merchant can refuse payment in cash, if the customer pays with more than fifty coins, if the merchant does not have the capacity to top up, if the means of payment is excessively damaged, if the note or coin is suspected of being counterfeit, if the means of payment is withdrawn from circulation or if it is a foreign currency.